h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, please! I would love some tea.
*sip, slurp*
I agree completely on the moss. I have a Theory of Lawns. It is based on the philosophy 'Death to Lawn'. To explain:
Lawn does not occur in nature. Ground cover or grassy meadows occur in nature. That's what it likes to do, so that is what I believe in. It's not nice to irritate Mother Nature. By continual mowing of grassy fields.

Therefore I feel we should cultivate the large number of ground covers available to us, and let grasses grow into meadows. I mean how often do you walk about on your lawn? Really? And if you really want to, lovely garden paths are much nicer than bare patches in 'lawn'. Now, of course if you require a 'specialized' area like a croquet lawn or something, that's different. But generally...

DEATH TO LAWN!!!!

So there.

}:=8
PS my late husband used to fight violets in the lawn with the same intensity you seem to feel about the moss. I liked the violets...they make lovely ground cover

Me not got a garden... me not a good gardener... me loves sitting in a garden though... laying in the grass... the smell... oh poot... me want to do that now!!

Well, what a great weekend that was (NOT!)

Saturday was painting furniture and scraping more moss outa the lawn (sigh), Sunday was a Mother's Day extravaganza featuring a table of 15 for lunch, 5 of whom were mothers. Then it snowed. I mean, you gotta love a country that can go from shirt-sleeves weather on Saturday to snowing on Sunday. Haven't you?

Okay, blu, I know a lawn is an unnatural, man-made thing, but I love it when it's lush and green with these cool stripes down it, and it used to be like that when we bought the house. But last summer was, as we gardeners term it, pish, and the moss snuck in there so bad that we now have a springy lawn. But I'll lick it into shape, don't you worry! (Actually, licking it might be the best bet at this stage...)

Greebz, you don't need to worry about not having a garden, for you are a cat, and all gardens belong to all cats. Just don't try to climb on to our bird table...

Oddly, we had very similar weather in da yoop. Shirtsleeve weather on saturday and frost when we got up on sunday.

Mother's day doesn't happen over here until the middle of May. Is yours an 'official' Mothers' Day, or just a family gathering? I make it a point never to go out to lunch with large groups of women. Especially on Mothers' Day. But then, I AM a curmudgeon.

I agree that well-manicured lawn is nice between the toes, but I really like the woods better. And we had a catastrophe this weekend as the property adjoining ours in da yoop has been sold and the new owner has spent the last week clearing the middle of the lot to build a garage, and have a 'view' of the water. At least he left most of the big trees and stuff along our lot line. but now I can see neighbors two houses down, and the birds have lost all kinda nesting space.
*sigh*
BAH! DEATH TO LAWN!

}:=8

Yeah, neighbours, eh? Who needs 'em! My mum's having a running feud with hers who firstly grew a line of conifers so high that they threatened to block her view of Linlithgow loch and Palace (birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots - now derelict, but still a nice thing to see out of your living room window), then erected a cheapo conservatory right under her window on their postage stamp sized garden, with news that they also intend to put up a shed..somewhere. It's hard to see where, really. She's been in the house 30 years and is now 73 and doesn't need the aggravation, but what can you do? Arson comes to mind...

Oh yeah, it was an "official" Mothers' Day - dreamt up as a marketing exercise by card and chocolate makers in conjunction with flower shops. Restaurants are starting to get in on the act these days too, offering Mothers' Day menus, so that's what we did. A table with 15's no darned good for chatting though. Moira and I would have hosted it in our house as a buffet, but the living and dining room are still in the throes of decoration. We shall have a grand re-opening once we find a suitable dignitary to cut the red ribbon across the door...

Anyway, I shall persevere with our lawn once the temperature goes up a bit. Somewhat raw at the moment. Let's have a little drop of rum in our coffee, shall we?

Rum inna coffee?
*drool*
You betcha!

Have you ever heard of something called 'butter rum'. Was in Canada this weekend and a Rum Toddy was on the menu. Said the ingredients were rum and 'butter rum'. They also served a spiced rum, but I know what's in that.

}:=8

PS 'Mothers' Day has been 'official' here since Congress passed a resolution in 1914, which means they have had plenty of time to commercialize it. Mothers Day menus are rampant, and many restaurants give out flowers to any woman who is served. Last year I got one just for having breakfast out that Sunday. But dinner out is pretty gruesome, unless you like eating in large rooms full of 20-30 family groups including many crying children, grandparents with walkers, harried waitresses, and nondescript menus. My past celebrations usually included cooking dinner for my husband's mother, rather than going out.
PPS I dont care much for the holiday.

AND I was driving, so I couldn't even have a glass of wine.

Let's make up for it right now. Here, pour a small amount of coffee into this tankard of rum, would you?

Hi Spiny
This has got nothing to do with your on going conversation but Keeza suggested I ask you. Something to do with your name I think!
Do you know in which country the hedgehog is held sacred? Seriously I really want to know.
Best wishes
Amarylis

yessh...les' pour sommatha rum inna tankard
DARN, outta coffee, gonna hafta drink it straight...
*hic*

}:=8

Hey, Amarylis, nice to meet you. Me an' bludragon are drinking coffe and rum here, only without the coffee. Care to join us?

Erm, no - don't know which country hedgehogs are sacred. I know of one Greek island (Kalymnos I think) where they flourish, having been introduced from England. That little-known fact any use to you?

Thanks Spiny
I will add that to my little known facts collection.
Have any champagne? I have expensive tastes!
Amarylis

Hullo, Amarylis!

This may not be exactly 'sacred' hedgehogs, but the US Groundhog Day was derived from folklore that hedgehogs could predict the beginning of spring. Settlers in the US, unable to find hedgehogs, used groundhogs instead. And this evolved into Groundhog Day.

Couldn't find anything about the source of the original folklore. Found lotsa links to hedgehog pages, though.

Would you care for a Mimosa? It is one of my favorite champagne drinks. [And good for you too.] I just happen to have a bottle of champagne and some orange juice here. *pours some of each into glasses and serves it*
Spiny? Amarylis? Anyone else?
[I know Greebo would rather have milk with a straw]

Why yes, thank you, I would LOVE a Mimosa...
*takes one of the glasses*
*gulp, glug, swallow*
Ahhhhh....great breakfast drink!

}:=8

That dragon, eh? Booze for breakfast! What an embarassment. Still, she has a lot on her mind you know, Amarylis. Elsewhere on h2g2 she Royally rules a kingdom, but she comes here to put her slippers on and slob around in her dressing gown with a drink in her hand. Mind you, so do I, so I'm glad you've come to join us and maybe bring a little class to the joint.

So, have a drink while I go to my holiday photograph collection and check exactly which Greek island has the hedgehogs. I think maybe it's not actually Kalymnos, but I can't remember exactly which of the several we've been to it was. The main town has a hilltop restaurant where you can sit enjoying the views from the terrace while the hedgehogs scavenge around your feet. It's about the only time I can recall hedgehogs being a nuisance....

More - erm - coffee, anyone?

*hic*

}:=8

~Greebo turns up for her milk~... hi all... ~grin~

Hi Your Royalness.

I did think of the ground hog but they are not related as far as I know. Somone has come up with the Platypus. That is related and is considered sacred by the Aboriginals. Sounds likely to me. What do you think?



I have had to wait until now to avail myself of your generous offer.
The mimosa is delicious. I have always known it as Bucks Fizz but mimosa is much more ladylike. Speaking of which..I am a bit worried about Greebo. I am sure that Nanny Ogg and Terry Pratchett thinks that he is male. What happened? NOT the vets surely?

Amarylis

Hey Greebz! *big, but careful hug* Been missing you, where you been?

Have a bowl of milk, in fact, have two bowls of milk. An' here, have a bucket of doughnuts as well. How ya been? Meet our new friend Amarylis here, she of the strange gender questions

Oh, and I asked around, Amarylis - the Greek island was Alonissos.

PS You don't need to be formal with her maj here...!

hullo Greebo!
golly, how do you find time to stop in for a hullo and a snack with everything going on. I mean, of course, the wild parties...not the impending matrimony.

an' I answer to just plain ole 'blu' when I am not in Damogran. although I DO like the sound of 'royal dinogracis'...


dunno about the platypus, guess I just dont know too much about the hedgehog area of folklore. Spiny?

}:=8

Erm, well... I'm just a hedgehog by adoption, so what do I know...?